cwilleford.miamiblues-第22部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　〃I　guess　you　don't　know　Sergeant　Wilson；　then。　He　won't　stand　for　any　split　like　that。〃
　　〃In　that　case；　it'll　cost　you　seven…fifty　a　week　instead　of　five　hundred；　won't　it？〃
　　〃Give　me　a　break；　for　Christ's　sake！〃
　　〃I　have。　But　I'd　rather　take　you　in　and　book　you。　There're　plenty　of　girls　in　Miami　over　eighteen　without　putting　young　kids　into　the　life。〃
　　〃I　didn't　know。　That　holy　sonofabitch！　I　asked　Marty　first　thing　because　she　looked　so　fucking　young；　but　he　swore　that…〃
　　〃Martin　Waggoner's　dead；　Pablo；　and　there's　no　one　to　back　you　up。　You　can　start　paying　today。　Tonight；　by　ten　P。M。　An　envelope　to　the　Eldorado　Hotel。〃
　　〃That's　in　South　Beach？〃
　　〃That's　right；　on　the　bay　side；　three　blocks　from　Joe's　Stone　Crabs。　Just　give　it　to　the　man　on　the　desk　tonight；　and　tell　him　to　put　it　in　the　safe　for　me。〃
　　〃All　right；　but　I'm　going　to　talk　to　Wilson；　and　he'll　have　something　to　say　to　you　about　this。〃
　　〃I'm　sure　he　will。　Tell　him　if　he　wants　to　talk　to　me；　we　can　meet　in　the　Internal　Affairs　Office。　Tell　him　that。〃
　　〃You　didn't　have　to　hit　me；　either。〃
　　〃I　wanted　to　get　your　attention；　and　I　thought　you　might　have　a　knife。　Good…bye；　Pablo。〃
　　Pablo　looked　as　if　he　might　have　something　more　to　say；　but　he　turned　and　left　the　conference　room。　He　didn't　close　the　door　behind　him。
　　He'll　send　the　250　tonight；　Freddy　thought；　but　after　his　talk　with　Wilson；　whoever　that　is；　he'll　probably　discontinue　the　next　payment。　But　maybe　not。　Sergeant　Wilson　would　worry　about　those　two　magic　words　〃Internal　Affairs〃。　Even　straight　cops　were　frightened　by　the　investigators　in　Internal　Affairs。　At　any　rate；　a　confused　Pablo　Lhosa　wouldn't　e　looking　for　Susan。　As　time　passed；　old　Pablo　would　try　to　forget　that　he　had　ever　known　her。
　　The　old　lady；　smoking　an　aromatic　Tijuana　Small；　was　still　waiting　for　Freddy　when　he　came　out　of　the　hotel。　The　meter　was　ticking　away。
　　〃Turn　off　the　meter　now；〃　Freddy　said；　as　he　got　into　the　back　seat。　〃It　reminds　me　of　the　passage　of　time。　I'll　give　you　another　hundred　bucks；　and　you　can　give　me　a　tourist's　grand　tour　of　Miami　Beach。　And　then；　when　you　get　to　Bal　Harbour；　you　can　drop　me　at　a　real　estate　office。〃
　　〃I've　got　nothing　better　to　do；〃　the　old　lady　said。
　　When　Freddy　handed　her　the　money　she　lifted　her　Mercury　Morris　T…shirt；　with　the　number　22　on　the　back；　and　stuffed　the　bills　into　her　brassiere。
　　
　　
　　16
　　
　　The　work　on　Hoke's　mouth；　as　planned　by　Doctors　Rubin　and　Goldstein；　did　not　pan　out　as　well　as　they　had　hoped。　Hoke's　new　teeth　were　almost　fragile　pared　with　his　old　Dolphin　choppers；　his　jaw　wouldn't　hold　a　set　of　heavier　teeth。　After　the　jaw　healed；　and　it　healed　remarkably　fast；　the　restraints　were　removed　and　a　pan　holding　evil…tasting　pink　plaster　was　jammed　into　Hoke's　mouth。　Impressions　were　made；　and　twenty…three　days　after　the　assault；　Hoke　had　a　full　set　of　slightly　yellow　upper　and　lower　dentures。　Hoke　had　wanted　whiter　teeth；　but　Dr。　Rubin　had　told　him　that　whiter　teeth　would　look　false；　and　that　the　yellow　ones　were　more　natural　for　his　age。
　　Nevertheless；　when　Hoke　forced　himself　to　take　a　long　look　at　his　new　visage；　the　teeth　looked　phony；　and　he　was　alarmed　by　his　overall　appearance。
　　Hoke　had　lost　weight　on　the　liquid　diet　and　was　down　to　158　pounds。　The　last　time　he　had　weighed　158　pounds　he　had　been　a　junior　in　high　school。　He　was　only　forty…two；　but　with　his　sunken　cheeks　and　gray　beard　he　thought　he　looked　closer　to　sixty。　The　crinkly　sun…wrinkles　around　his　eyes　were　deeper；　and　the　lines　from　the　corners　of　his　nose　to　the　edge　of　his　lips　looked　as　if　they　had　been　etched　there　with　a　power　tool。　His　habitually　dour　expression　underwent　a　startling　transformation　when　he　smiled：　the　yellow　teeth　gave　him　a　sinister　appearance。
　　But　Hoke　had　no　reason　to　smile。
　　The　departmental　insurance　had　covered　80　percent　of　his　hospitalization　and　a　good　portion　of　his　dental　and　surgical　fees；　but　Hoke　still　owed　the　hospital　and　the　two　doctors　more　than　10；000。　Except　for　the　one　night　when　he　had　shared　the　four…bed　ward　with　the　teenager；　he　had　had　the　ward　to　himself。　As　a　consequence；　the　hospital　had　charged　him　for　a　private　room；　except　for　that　one　night。　On　that　night；　it　was　charged　as　a　semiprivate　room。　Hoke's　insurance　didn't　cover　a　private　room；　so　the　〃private〃　room　meant　an　extra　10　a　day　on　his　bill。　Hoke　protested　the　charge　to　no　avail。　When　he　left　the　hospital；　the　nurses　packed　his　bedpan　and　enema　equipment；　telling　him　that　he　had　paid　for　them　and　was　entitled　to　take　them　along。
　　Before　leaving　the　hospital　with　Bill　Henderson；　who　had　driven　over　to　pick　him　up；　Hoke　had　a　talk　with　the　priestcounselor　who　wanted　to　work　out　some　kind　of　a　reasonable　monthly　payment　plan。　The　talk　had　ended　with　both　of　them　angry　because　Hoke　insisted　that　he　couldn't　possibly　pay　more　than　25　a　month　on　the　enormous　bill。
　　Henderson　drove　Hoke　straight　to　the　Eldorado　so　he　could　get　his　car。　The　police　radio　was　missing；　and　so　was　the　battery。
　　〃The　department'll　put　in　a　new　radio；　Hoke；〃　Henderson　said；　〃on　the　strength　of　a　Lost　and　Damaged　Report；　but　they　sure　as　hell　won't　get　you　a　new　battery。〃
　　〃There　goes　another　fifty　bucks。〃
　　〃What　the　hell？　You've　got　the　hundred　and　eighteen　bucks　the　guy　didn't　find；　or　didn't　want；　on　top　of　your　dresser；　and　two　paychecks　waiting　for　you　in　Captain　Brownley's　office。〃
　　〃One　of　those　checks　goes　to　my　ex…wife；〃　Hoke　reminded　him。　〃But　what　I　can't　figure　out　is　that　money　you　found　in　my　room。　I'll　swear　that　I　had　less　than　twenty　bucks　when　I　got　home。　Otherwise　I'd've　given　part　of　the　hundred　to　Irish　Mike　to　bring　down　my　tab。〃
　　〃Maybe　the　guy　felt　sorry　for　you。　He　took　your　wallet；　so　he　had　to　take　the　money　out　to　leave　it　on　your　dresser。〃
　　〃Guys　like　that　don't　feel　sorry　for　anyone。　Let's　go　in　and　talk　to　Mr。　Bennett。　And　Bill；　I　really　don't　want　to　go　home　with　you。　I　appreciate　your　offer；　but　I'm　too　much　of　a　loner　to　put　up　with　Marie　and　your　kids。　I　want　to　be　alone　for　the　next　couple　of　weeks。〃
　　〃I　thought　you　might　feel　that　way；　so　I　talked　to　Mr。　Bennett　myself。　In　fact；　I　won't　go　inside　with　you；　because　Bennett　and　me…well…we　had　some　words。　I　got　on　his　ass　about　the　lousy　room　he　had　you　in；　so　finally　he　agreed　to　give　you　a　small　suite　on　the　second　floor。　Suite　two…oh…seven。　The　old　lady　who　had　it　for　eleven　years　died。〃
　　〃Mrs。　Schultz　died？〃
　　〃I　think　that　was　her　name。　Anyway；　she　had　some　nice　things；　and　he's　left　them　there　and　cleaned　up　the　place。　You　were　missed　around　here　while　you　were　in　the　hospital。　The　old　people　were　scared　shitless　when　you　were　attacked。　So　I　guess　your　Mr。　Bennett　finally　realized　that　a　free　security　officer　was　worth　two　rooms　instead　of　one。〃
　　〃I　guess　you　knew　all　along　I　wouldn't　move　in　on　you　and　Marie？〃
　　〃I　had　a　hunch。　The　main　thing　was　to　give　you　a　Miami　address；　so　be　sure　to　use　my　address　on　your　correspondence。　Anyway；　I　brought　all　your　stuff　with　me　in　the　trunk　of　the　car；　just　in　case　you　wanted　to　stay　here。〃
　　〃e　on　in；　Bill。　You　don't　have　to　be　worried　about　Bennett。〃
　　Eddie　Cohep；　the　old　man　who　was　both　night　and　day　desk　clerk　when　he　wasn't　doing　something　else；　was　happy　to　see　Hoke。　Eddie　rubbed　his　stubbled　chin　and　pointed　to　Hoke's　gray　beard。
　　〃You　look　like　Dr。　Freud；　Sergeant　Moseley。〃
　　They　shook　hands。　〃Before　or　after　the　prosthesis？〃
　　〃Before　and　after。　You　lost　yourself　a　little　weight。〃
　　〃Twenty…seven　pounds。〃　Hoke　smiled。
　　〃Your　new　teeth　are　beautiful！　Simply　beautiful！〃
　　〃Thanks。　You　know　Sergeant　Henderson？〃
　　〃Oh；　yes。　We　talked　the　other　day。　Mr。　Bennett　said　to　say　wele　back　for　him。　He's　up　in　Palm　Beach　for　the　weekend。　D'you　know　about　your　new　suite？〃
　　〃Sergeant　Henderson　just　told　me。〃
　　Eddie　shook　his　head。　〃Mrs。　Schultz　went　quietly　in　her　sleep。　She　watched　'Magnum　P。I。'　in　the　lobby；　went　on　up　to　bed；　and　Mrs。　Feeny　found　her　the　next　morning。〃
　　〃She　was　the　expert　on　'General　Hospital'　in　the　TV　Club；　wasn't　she？〃
　　〃Right。　And　'Dallas；'　too。〃
　　〃My　stuff's　out　in　Sergeant　Henderson's　car。　Some　sonofabitch　stole　my　radio　and　battery　while　I　was…〃
　　〃No。〃　Cohen　shook　his　head。　〃Just　your　radio。　I　saw　the　radio　was　missing　on　my　morning　check　outside；　so　I　had　Gutierrez　take　out　your　battery　and　put　it　in　Mr。　Bennett's　office。　So　you've　still　got　your　battery。　You　see；〃　he　turned　to　Henderson；　〃when　they　built　the　Eldorado　back　in　'twentynine；　people　used　to　e　down　here　by　rail　and　ship。　So　there　weren't　enough　cars　around　then　to　build　parking　garages　the　way　they　do　now。
　　〃Oh；　yes；　I've　also　got　some　money　for　you。〃
　　Eddie　Cohen　went　into　the　office　and　returned　with　two　manila　envelopes。　The　flaps　were　sealed　with　Scotch　tape。
　　〃I　opened　these　when　they　was　delivered；　and　there　was　exactly　two　hundred　and　fifty　dollars　in　each　envelope。　I　told　Mr。　Bennett；　of　course；　and　we　kept　the　money　locked　up　in　the　safe。　Maybe　I　shouldn't've　opened　them〃…Eddie　shrugged…　〃but　I　thought　it　might　be　something　important。〃
　　〃That's　okay；　Eddie；〃　Hoke　said。　SGT。　MOSLEY　was　printed　in　capitals　with　a　black　felt…tipped　pen　on　each　envelope。　〃Who　brought　the　envelopes？〃
　　〃Some　Cuban　kid　on　a　mini…bike。　Both　times。　He　just　said　to　put　the　envelopes　in　the　safe　for　Sergeant　Moseley。　That's　all　I　know。　I　didn't　have　to　sign　a　receipt　or　nothing。〃
　　Hoke　counted　the　money　on　the　desk。　The　bills　were　all　used　tens；　fives；　and　singles。
　　〃What's　going　on；　Hoke？〃　Henderson　asked。
　　〃I　haven't　got　a　clue。　Let's　walk　over　to　Irish　Mike's　and　have　a　drink。〃
　　〃That's　a　lot　of　dough　not　to　know　anything　about　it…〃
　　〃I　know。　Let's　talk　about　it　at　Irish　Mike's。　While　we're　gone；　Eddie　can　get　my　stuff　out　of　your　car。　Okay；　Eddie？〃
　　〃Sure。　Go　ahead。　Gutierrez　is　around　here　someplace。　He'll　take　it　up　for　you。〃
　　〃You　said　you　felt　a　little　weak　before；〃　Henderson　said。　〃Can　you　walk　two　blocks　in　the　sun？〃
　　〃I　need　to　walk　off　a　little　adrenaline。〃
　　They　found　seats　at　the　bar　in　Irish　Mike's。　Mike　shook　hands　with　Hoke；　and　frowned。　〃That　beard　looks　terrible；